Sunil Kumar Jaiswal

Carbofuran Induced Oxidative Stress Mediated Alterations in Na + -K + -ATPase Activity in Rat Brain: Amelioration by Vitamin E

Pesticides cause oxidative stress and adversely influence Na+‐K+‐ATPase activity in animals. Since impact of carbofuran has not been properly studied in the mammalian brain, the ability of carbofuran to induce oxidative stress and modulation in Na+‐K+‐ATPase activity and its amelioration by vitamin E was performed. The rats divided into six groups received two different doses of carbofuran (15% and 30% LD50) for 15 days. The results suggested that the carbofuran treatment caused a significant elevation in levels of malonaldehyde and reduced glutathione and sharp inhibition in the activities of super oxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase; the effect being dose dependent. Carbofuran at different doses also caused sharp reduction in the activity of Na+‐K+‐ATPase. The pretreatment of vitamin E, however, showed a significant recovery in these indices. The pretreatment of rats with vitamin E offered protection from carbofuran‐induced oxidative stress.

Carbofuran Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Heart: Ameliorative Effect of Vitamin C

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbofuran on the levels of certain biomarkers in heart of rat exposed to sublethal concentrations of pesticide for 30 days after each interval of 24 h. The ameliorative effect of vitamin C by pretreatment of rats was also monitored. The results indicated that the activities of acetylcholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased significantly in rat heart tissues, the extent of inhibition being concentration dependent. In contrast, the level of LDH increased in serum. The levels of malondialdehyde, total thiols, and glutathione were significantly elevated whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase were remarkably decreased in rat heart tissues. The serum concentrations of cholesterol increased by 47 and 77% and high density lipids decreased by 35 and 64%, respectively, due to exposure to 5 and 10% LD50 of carbofuran. The prior treatment of rats with vitamin C (100 mg kg−1 body weight) exerted significant ameliorative effect. The recovery was higher at low carbofuran concentration (5%) tested. The results indicated that carbofuran induced oxidative stress and caused damage to cardiac tissues, which could be recovered by prior application of vitamin C.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Citrus limon Fruit Extract against Carbofuran Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranol methylcarbamate), is known to induce oxidative stress and to cause inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. The present work was envisaged to evaluate the effect of carbofuran on redox indices and its interactions with hepatic markers in rat. The ameliorating effect of Citrus limon fruit extract on carbofuran induced toxicity was also monitored. The results indicated that carbofuran treatment caused significant alterations in the levels of activities of AST, ALT, and LDH in liver tissues and serum. The levels of enzymatic oxidative stress markers such as SOD and catalase and nonenzymatic redox molecules such as total thiol, GSH, and protein thiol also showed significant perturbations in rat liver due to carbofuran treatment. The administration of Citrus limon fruit extract, however, was able to markedly ameliorate the toxicity of carbofuran by protecting the levels of aforesaid biomarkers to near normal levels. The ameliorative effect of Citrus limon fruit extract may be due to the presence of different antioxidants in it which may neutralize the ROS and RNS generated in the body tissue due to pesticide stress. These results suggested that Citrus limon fruit extract may be utilized as a potential supplement in proper management of pesticide intoxication in association with relevant therapeutics.

Vitamin C acts as a hepatoprotectant in carbofuran treated rat liver slices in vitro

Graphical abstract

Studies on the ameliorative effect of curcumin on carbofuran induced perturbations in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in wistar rats

Carbofuran is known to inhibit neurotransmission system of insects. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of curcumin on carbofuran induced alterations in energy metabolism in brain and liver of rats. The results demonstrate that carbofuran caused a significant inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in rat liver but an increase in LDH activity in the brain. Increased LDH activity was also observed in the serum indicating organ damage in treated animals. Carbofuran caused an increase in level of pyruvic acid in rat liver but a decrease in the brain. A decrease in the level of soluble protein was also observed in the tissues studied. Pretreatment of animals with curcumin resulted in significant amelioration of the altered indices. These results indicate that carbofuran at sub lethal concentrations may adversely alter energy metabolism in brain and liver of non-target mammalian systems. Pretreatment of animals with curcumin may exhibit a potential to mitigate the carbofuran induced toxicity.

Xenobiotics-Mediated Modulation of ATPases and Biomedical Implications

A xenobiotic is a chemical compound found in an organism but normally not produced or expected to be present in it. Xenobiotics are the substances foreign to any biological system. Mostly, these are artificial or synthetic substances such as drugs including antibiotics, which did not exist in nature. Natural compounds can also become xenobiotics if they are taken up by another organism. Pollutants such as dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and dyes also belong to this category. A compound that is normal to one organism may be a xenobiotic to another; for example the sewage for a fish. When an animal produces a toxin as a defense mechanism against predators, these toxins can be thought of as xenobiotics to the predator. However, predators can also evolve defenses against these xenobiotics. The term xenobiotic is also used to refer to organs transplanted from one species to another. Most of the xenobiotics evoke response in an individual by acting at their specific targets. Some of them actively interact with different ATPases and are capable to efficiently modulate their structures and functions. This chapter illustrates an updated account of interactions of different xenobiotics with varied ATPases, xenobiotics induced modulations in the structures and functions of different ATPases and their implications in design and development of newer potential anticancer agents. In addition, the possible ameliorative strategies to encounter adverse effects generated by such xenobiotics are also discussed.